Manager, Housing Strategy

About Us

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing is dedicated to working with municipalities to build healthy, vibrant, and safe communities throughout Nova Scotia. The Department provides programs, grants, and funding opportunities for municipalities and community groups. The Department also provides services and guidance to municipalities in many areas including land use planning, budget planning and finance, infrastructure development, policy and program development.

The Department is also responsible for ensuring the availability of safe, suitable, and affordable housing for all Nova Scotians. Our work involves making strategic investments, leveraging new funding, and building on critical partnerships to help further position ourselves to meet current and future housing challenges.

About Our Opportunity

The Manager of Housing Policy & Strategy will lead a team of professionals to provide housing policy leadership, project management and high-quality analysis and strategic recommendations to Department senior leadership, the Minister and Government to support informed decision-making on the Province’s Housing priorities.

In this exciting role, you will work in a highly collaborative team environment which will require close coordination with others to achieve success. The successful applicant will have demonstrated their commitment to diversity and inclusion and will actively promote and encourage the importance of teams, people, partnerships, diversity, and culture in all aspects of their work.

Primary Accountabilities

• Leading a team that produces robust, comprehensive analysis across a number of areas that contributes to evidence-based decision-making and the development of long term strategic objectives for housing.
• Leading major strategic projects for housing.
• Developing Housing policy and program evaluation.
• Writing reports, summaries and analyses, Cabinet submissions, and preparing briefing notes for the Minister and senior management as required.
• Liaising with colleagues interdepartmentally and inter-jurisdictionally.
• Supporting housing legislative agenda development and development of legislative proposals
• Coordinating corporate reporting and accountability processes for the housing branch.

Qualifications and Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., public administration, law, social sciences) with several years of progressive experience in a policy development role , as well as team leadership; or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.

As the successful candidate you demonstrate knowledge and understanding of policy and legislative processes and a thorough understanding of Government decision-making processes as well as corporate and government issues and priorities.  You have demonstrated experience in:

Staff supervision, with the ability to manage staff including performance evaluation management, selection, attendance and professional development;
Policy analysis and leading policy development processes;
Preparation of cabinet submissions.
Strong interpersonal skills and enjoy working in a fast-paced, delivery focused, agile environment. 
Excellent writing skills,  including policy briefing materials, presentations, or reports.
Strong organizational skills, capable of prioritizing and delegating high level work under tight timelines, and able to exercise sound judgement under pressure.
The ability to work with internal and external stakeholders with tact, diplomacy and utilizing good negotiation, consultation and facilitation skills;
A broad understanding of corporate and government issues and priorities;
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written);
Strong research, analytical skills, with the ability to develop and achieve goals and objectives; and
The ability to promote diversity and a healthy workplace, and to encourage collaborative teamwork and individual development.

A thorough understanding of the Nova Scotia housing context is considered an asset.
 

LEADS

The Government of Nova Scotia has adopted the LEADS Leadership Framework. During the interview, candidates will be expected to express how they have demonstrated the key behaviors and capabilities required to effectively lead in a caring and inclusive environment. LEADS Domains include Leads Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalitions, and Systems Transformation.

Please follow LEADS for more information.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Equivalencies include, but are not limited to:

• Masters Degree in a related field such as public administration, policy, or the social sciences. Related experience should be progressive and demonstrate management of teams and multiple projects.

Benefits

Based on the employment status the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.  For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Most of your work is in a comfortable office environment. You may be required to travel. There is a need for you to balance competing priorities and meet strict deadlines.

Additional Information

This position requires the successful candidate to work on-site 5 days/week.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths